Fitting for fluid-supply systems.



PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907.

B. H. GOLD. FITTING- FOR FLUID SUPPLY SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..8,1906.

w w w hm Z EGBERT H. GOLD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FITTING FOR FLUID-SUPPLY SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application filed March 8. 1906. Serial No. 804.924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Eennnr H. GOLD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fittings for Fluid-Supply Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fittin s for fluid supply systems, and has speci l reference to a ipe fitting adapted for use where it is desirab le to interpose a screen or strainer between a ipe conveying fluid and another pipe branching therefrom.

The invention is adapted to be used in a variety of situations, but is flparticularly adapted for use in a system of uid heating for railway cars, wherein a steam train-pipe extends beneath the cars throughout the length of the train. From this train-pipe branch ofi, under each car, one or more service or supply pipes for conducting steam to the radiating system of the car.

'The principal object of the present invention is to provide a pipe-fitting adapted to be interposed in the steam train-pipe of a car and to serve as a cross connection or coupling between the train-pipe and the lateral supply pipe, or pipes, said coupling having therein a strainer or screen adapted to interce t dust or other foreign matter and prevent t e same from passing into the lateral sup ly pipes, said strainer or screen being rea ily removed and replaced.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown an application of my invention to a' form of pipe-fitting known as a cross, or, when fitted with some form of strainer, as a strainer cross: When a 'strainer cross is employed in a steam train-pipe, the steam is permitted to pass freely through the cross in the direction of the length of the train-pipe, but is caused to pass through screen material beforeentering the branch or service pipes. Under existing and well understood conditions it sometimes becomes necessary to remove and replace the screens or strainers.

, With the strainer crosses heretofore, used this is a matter involving considerable trouble, as, by reason of their construction, it becomes necessary to disconnect some of the I I the drawings, Figure 1 1s a vert1cal,sectlonal view of a strainer cross com r1smg one embodiment of my mvention, t e section being taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and Fig. 2 shows a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In these figures like reference characters indicate similar parts throughout.

In the drawings, A is a shell or casing having therein a chamber B. Opening into this chamber B are the ports C and D, these ports being interiorly screw-threaded to receive the threaded ends of the ipes E and F. Leading from the chamber T3 are the lateral cross ports G and H, these ports being provided with screw-threads to receive threads upon the ends of the service or su ply ipes I and J. -Betwee7n the chamber an the cross ort G is in. cylindrical chamber K. This chamber K is so disposed with relation to the various ports as to have its axis perpendicular to a line passing through the cross ports G and H. A similar chamber L is located between the chamber B and the cross port H. Adapted to be inserted into these cylindrical chambers K and L are cythe plugs O and P being formed with de-- ressions Q and R having inclined sides. lhe object of giving this form to the strainers and plugs is to prevent endwise crushing and hue (ling of the strainers when the plugs O and P are screwed in tightly against the I strainers. Such endwise compresslonmight,

if permitted, cause the swellin and binding of the strainers in their chambers and prevent the easy removal of the same, but, by reason of the mutually conforming surfaces of the strainers and plugs, any end compression on the strainers will tend to force the strainer into the plug. As it is very desirable to avoid crushing or bending of the strainers, which will render their removal difficult, I preferthis cylindrical form of strainer, although the particular form is not essential to my invention, and L further preferably protect the strainer by admitting lindrical or tubular strainers M and N.-

steam, or other fluid, to the strainer chamber through a relatively narrow, elongated port b, as shown in the drawing,

It will thus be seen that, broadly,.my .ini 5 vention comprises a fitting having any steam passage across which is disposed a removable strainer of any suitable form, which may be removed and replaced through an opening other than is formed by the pipes or pas- 1 0 sages constitpting the fitting provided for such purpose without interfering with the normal connections of the fitting, while, in

' the specific embodiment of this invention which is shown in the drawings, 1 provide a strainer in the form of a cylinder, which is best'adapted to resist the crushing pressure of the steam, which might otherwise jam the strainer in its chamber, and this cylindrical strainer is preferably so mounted as'to have end play withinits chamber, so as to avoid endwise crushing,'which might also jam it in position and render its removal difficult, and, as an additional or alternative feature, the

, cylindrical strainer is inwardly tapered at one end, where it may abut against the walls of an inwardly tapering recessin the plug used to close the strainer chamber, ,so that, in case the tightening of the plug tends to crush the strainer cndwise, such crushing force will tend to force the tapered end of the strainer into the recess in the plug, rather than to bulge or distort the strainer,

so as to render its removal from its chamber difficult. In the application of this form of strainer cross in practical work, the pipes E and F are parts of the train-pipe, the casing A becoming also a part of said train-pipe, and .the chamber B providing an unobstructed and unrestricted passage for steam -40 therethrough, the full size of the interior of the train-pipe. h

The pipes I and J, leading from the cross ports G and Ii, will be the lateral feeders, or

supply pipes, leading to-the radiating sys 'ten1s of the car. The passage of any dirt, pieces of hose, or other foreign matter,from the train-pipe into the laterals will be eftec tually prevented by the strainers M and N. It will be seen that the steam from the trainpipe must pass through one of these strainers twice before entering the supply pipe and that this feature must afford a very etfieient straining or screening of the steam.

When it is desired to remove the strainers, for cleanin or purposes of renewal, this may be effects by the simple removal of the plugs O and P, when these strainers may be easily withdrawn and new ones inserted in their laces. In all devices of this class hereto ore used, so far as I am aware, it is necessary, before the strainers can be removed, to disconnect some of the-pipe con-- I neetions, As'this is, of course, a matter of some trouble and requires considerable time,

the' strainers are not inspected and, consequently, they corrode and disintegrate, and not only cease to eil'ectively prevent the 'entrance of foreign material-through the lateral or feed pipes, but, intact, pieces of the disintegrated strainers will be carried into.70

.the feed pipes by the movement of the steam and tend to'interfere with the operation of the valves and of other parts of the apparatus.

By the use of the invention herein shown and described, I am enabled to provide a pipe-fittingof this character which is'of simple and economical construction, in which the straining or screening is effectually accomplished, and-in which the inspection, removal and replacing of the strainers may .be donewitha minimum of trouble and expenditure of time. It will be seen that the chambers K andl, being cylindrical in form, may be easily fin- 85, ished to the proper size by boring operations, and'that' there is nothing about-the device, as a whole, that requires careful niachining or. accurate workmanship. I claim: l. A pipe fitting provided with a fluid passage extendin therethrough, a second passage leading i i'om the first named passage, and a strainer interposed at the junction of the two passages, said fitting having an open- 95. ing for the insertion and removal of the strainer, and means for closing said opening.

2. A pipe-fitting provided with a fluid-passage extending through the fitting and with a feed passage opening therefrom, and a strainer interposed across said feed passage,- said fitting being provided with an addi-- tional opening extending at an angle to both of said feed passages for the insertion of said strainer, and with a closure for said opening.

3., A pipe-fitting provided with a fluid passage, and a strainer interposed across said fluid passage, said fitting being also provided with a separate opening for the insertion and removal of said strainer'and witha closure for said opening, said strainer'and saidclosure being prov ded with mutually conform.

I ing surfaces, whereby end ressure upon said strainer will tend to .de ect said strainer from said closure. v i

4. A pipe-fitting comprising a fluid passage, and a tubular strainer interposed across said fluid passage so as to have play transversely of said passage, said fitting being also provided With-an opening for the insertion of said strainer and with a closure for said opening comprising a deviceengaging with said strainer.

5. A pi e-fitting rovided with a fluid pas' sage, an a cylind 'ical' strainer interposed transversely of said passage, said fitting being also provided with an opening for the insertion and removal of said strainer and with a closurelfor said opening, said closure being provided on its inner face with-a recess hav- 130 ing an inwardly tapered wall and said strainer being correspondingly tapered at one end to engage the tapered wall of said recess.

-6. A pipe-fitting comprising a fluid pas- .sage, a strainer extending transversely of sage leading from said main passage ar an angle thereto, a strainer chamber formed in the casi at the juncture of said passagegvays, an a tubular strainer in said cham- 8. A train pipe-fittin provided with an unobstructed main flui passage, a lateral passage opening therefrom, a strainer interposed transversely of said lateral passage and -at the side of the main fluid passage, and means for inserting and removing said strainerwithout disturbing the normal fluid connections of said fitting.

9. In a pipe-fitting, the combination of a casing having an inlet port, an outlet port leading from the casing at an angle to the inlet, a cylindrical chamber between said ports, and a tubular strainer adapted to be inserted into said chamber and, when in position in said chamber, to have its axis perpendicular to the axis of the outlet port.

10. In a pipe-fitting, the combination of a casing having a chamber therein, a port 0 ening into said chamber, a port opening om said chamber, and a cylindrical strainer interposed between the ports and in said chamher and said last-named port with its axis transverse .toboth of said ports.

11 In a strainer cross, the combination of a casing having a passage therethrough, cross ports 0 ening into said passage, a cylindrical cham er in said casing between the passage and one of the cross ports at the side of said passage and adapt-ed to receive a tubular strainer, and a screw-threade'd-plu adapted tdbcinserted into the mouth of san chamber after the strainer has been inserted into said chamber, to close said chamber and to retain the strainer therein.

12. In a pipe-fittin the combination of a casing having a cham ertherein, ports leadmg into and out of said chamber, a cylindrical strainer having a tapered end disposed across one of said ports, and a plug having a tapered hollow in one end adapted to engage with the tapered end of the strainer;

13. In a pipe fittin the combination of a casing having a chamber therein, ports lead ing into and out of said chamber, with a cy lindrical strainer in said casing and disposed across one of said ports, the casing formed with an aperture through which the strainer may'.be removed from the chamber and a plug to close the aperture and adapted to extend around and engage one end of the strainer.

14. The combination with a fitting having a passageway therethrough into which the main pi e connections are received, a cylindrical chamber transverse to said passageway and opening into the same, and a passage-way extending into said chamber in which a branch pipe connection is received, of a cylindrical strainer in said'chamber extending across the opening leading to the main pipe and the opening leading to the branch pipe, and removable means located at one end of the strainer for closing said chamber.

15. A pipe fitting comprising a shell having a main fluid passage extendin therethrough, afeed passage intersectiir t 1e main fluid passage, and a cylindrica strainer chamber at the intersection of said passages at ri ht angles toboth and extending above and elow the same, in combination with a 

